Fingerprint Kit (The Phoenix Kit)

ABSTRACT

This invention concerns a fingerprint powder container that incorporates a fingerprint brush into the lid. The fingerprint container has a lid designed to have a fingerprint brush inserted through the center of it making it possible to store the fingerprint brush with the powder. The fingerprint brush would be able to be fixed into the lid with a clamp allowing it to descend into the fingerprint powder at the bottom of the container that also holds fingerprint powder. The fingerprint brush hole in the lid may be sized to accept different brushes. The container and/or lid may be made of plastic, glass, metal, or other materials as well as different sizes and shapes. The container and/or lid may have writing on the side of it.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention concerns latent fingerprint collection with a kit thatuses fingerprint powder, and the instruments used to collect them.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The conventional latent fingerprint lifting kit that uses fingerprintpowder consists of a brush, powder container, powder, tape, and a cardfor displaying the prints. For purposes of this invention, thefingerprint brush container, and the powder container will beconcentrated on. The fingerprint brush traditionally comes in a plasticprotective tube to protect the bristles while it is being stored. Thefingerprint powder is traditionally stored in a plastic cup stylecontainer with a lid to keep the powder from spilling while in storage.To collect the fingerprints the brush must be removed from the tube anddipped in the cup containing the print powder for application. After thefingerprint brush is full of fingerprint powder it is twirled over thelatent fingerprints. This allows the fingerprint powder to stick to theoils left from fingers. After the fingerprints are outlined with thefingerprint powder a piece of tape is spread out over the print. Thetape is removed pulling the fingerprint with it. The tape is then put ona card to display the fingerprint.

It is important to keep the print powder in a small area duringapplication. It is also important to keep the powder from spilling whilein storage. It is near impossible to keep the print powder fromcontaminating unwanted areas while storing and applying it with thebrush.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary aim of this invention to keep the print powder fromcontaminating unwanted surfaces. It is a further aim of this inventionto make it easier to transport the fingerprint brush and the fingerprintpowder of a latent fingerprint lifting kit while still protecting thebristles on the fingerprint brush.

Another objective of this invention is to maintain the fingerprint brushin a manner that it is already loaded with print powder prior to use. Itis a further goal to provide a means to incorporate ones existingfingerprint brush as well as have one already incorporated into the lidif needed.

The foregoing objectives are achieved by a fingerprint powder containerconsisting of a lid that incorporates a fingerprint brush. A fingerprintbrush will be incorporated into the lid in a manner that it descendsinto the powder container through the center of the lid. The lidattaches to the container that holds the print powder. The fingerprintbrush is suspended above the top of the powder line in the container.This allows powder to be added to the fingerprint brush by shaking thecontainer. When the brush is removed from the container the centerportion of the lid remains connected to the brush. The lid is similar tomany containers in that it has a rubber seal around the rim of the innerportion of the lid that comes in contact with the rim of the containerto establish a seal.

The lid is also similar to a self sealing canning jar lid that iscommonly used to make jams as it has two components. The first and outerportion of the lid is threaded and fits on top of and around the secondand inner portion holding it securely when it is rotated down on thethreaded part of the container. The second component is the innerportion of the lid which fits on top of the container, holds thefingerprint brush with a clamp, and has a rubber seal. The twocomponents are necessary for the success of the brush due to the way itis manipulated during use. The brush must be rotated between the thumband forefinger in a twisting motion. Therefore the lid components areseparated to allow the portion of the lid that is connected to the brushto be as weightless as possible.

The second portion of the lid is different from that of a self sealingcanning lid as it has a hole through the center portion to allow theaddition of a fingerprint brush. The second portion of the lid is alsodifferent from a self sealing canning jar due to the area around thebrush is raised to stabilize the brush. The raised portion has 6components that come together to create a clamp around the fingerprintbrush handle. Half of the raised portion of the second part of the lidis removable and is secured with two screws and nuts to allow it to beclamped securely around the shaft of the fingerprint brush. The clampportion of the lid also has a “T” shaped rail which allows it to slideon the raised “T” shaped portion of the lid it attaches to. The “T”shaped rail allows the removable portion of the clamp to keep frommoving while secured. The purpose of the second portion of the lid withthe hole is to accept existing latent fingerprint brushes and the holewill vary in size.

Fig. I. The outer portion of the lid that secures the inner portion ofthe lid.

Figure II. Shows a top view of the inner portion of the lid that holdsthe fingerprint brush with the clamp coming together.

Figure III. Shows a top view of the inner portion of the lid with theclamp together.

Figure IV. Shows the bottom of the inner portion of the lid.

Figure V. Shows a bottom view of the removable portion of the clamp withbolts being inserted.

Figure VI. Shows the removable portion of the clamp and how it connectsto the “T” rail.

Figure VII. Shows the clamp coming together from the side.

Figure VIII. Shows the removable portion of the clamp from the frontgoing onto the “T” Rail

Fig VIIII. Shows all the pieces of the clamp together from the side.

Fig X. Shows a fingerprint brush being inserted up through thefingerprint brush hole and how the clamp secures it.

Fig XI. Shows the fingerprint powder container.

Fig XII. Shows all of the components of the Phoenix Kit coming together

Fig XIII. Shows all of the components of the Phoenix Kit together.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fingerprint powder container comprising: acontainer lid that incorporates a fingerprint brush.
 2. A fingerprintpowder container comprising: a lid having a sized hole and fingerprintbrush holder designed to adjust for inserting a fingerprint brush.
 3. Afingerprint powder container with a lid that would allow a fingerprintbrush to descend into the fingerprint powder container while in storage.